Knowledgebase: Public Affairs
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OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC) AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS ALCOAST 128/03
Posted by on 05 November 2011 05:41 PM
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ALCOAST 128/03 OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC) AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS A. COAST GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANUAL M5728.2D 1. DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS, WIDESPREAD SPECULATION BY THE MEDIA WITH RESPECT TO MARITIME SECURITY MEASURES AND THE NEED TO PROTECT OPERATIONAL SECURITY, THE FOLLOWING IS POLICY GUIDANCE. 2. CONTENT/RELEASE GUIDELINES: A. IAW REF A, AREA AND DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICES AND PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN ANY MEDIA INTERVIEWS WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW EXISTING PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDELINES AND SPECIFICALLY WILL NOT ADDRESS: (1) ANY SPECULATION ABOUT POSSIBLE THREAT SCENARIOS; (2) DETAILS OF SECURITY MEASURES; (3) TIMETABLES FOR ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO SECURITY LEVELS OR WHAT EVENTS WOULD CAUSE A CHANGE IN SECURITY LEVELS OR PROCEDURES; (4) ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT WOULD COMPROMISE OPERATIONAL SECURITY, AN OPERATIONAL MISSION OR THE SAFETY OF COAST GUARD AND/OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT/EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL. B. ANY COAST GUARD PRESS RELEASE/STATEMENT/INTERVIEW REGARDING NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY POLICIES, PLANS, MISSIONS, DHS PERSONNEL OR HAS POTENTIAL NATIONAL IMPACT MUST BE CLEARED THROUGH DHS VIA AREA/DISTRICT PAOS AND G- IPA PRIOR TO RELEASE. 3. NATIONAL MEDIA: FIELD UNITS WILL NOTIFY THEIR DISTRICT/AREA PAOS, AND DISTRICT/AREA PAOS WILL NOTIFY G-IPA OF ANY REQUESTS FROM NATIONAL MEDIA AND OBTAIN APPROVAL BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN ANY NATIONAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT. NATIONAL MEDIA INCLUDES NETWORK BROADCAST NEWS, WIRE SERVICES, TIER-ONE PRINT MEDIA I.E. PAPERS OF RECORD AND OUTLETS THAT ALSO RUN NATIONAL NEWS SERVICES SUCH AS THE WASHINGTON POST, NY TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND NATIONAL NEWS MAGAZINES. G-IPA WILL COORDINATE APPROVAL OF NATIONAL MEDIA REQUESTS WITH DHS PUBLIC AFFAIRS. AREA/DISTRICT PAOS MUST BE INVOLVED IN MANAGING NATIONAL MEDIA REQUESTS AND ASSIST UNITS, ESPECIALLY IF REQUESTS ARE DENIED OR DELAYED. 4. LOCAL MEDIA: FIELD UNITS WILL NOTIFY THEIR AREA/DISTRICT PAOS, AND AREA/DISTRICT PAOS WILL NOTIFY G-IPA, OF ANY SIGNIFICANT LOCAL MEDIA REQUESTS (MAJOR FEATURE STORIES, MULTI-PART SERIES REPORTS, ETC.) OR LOCAL COVERAGE OF POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL OR SENSITIVE TOPICS. APPROVAL FROM G-IPA AND DHS ARE NOT REQUIRED PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL STORIES. HOWEVER, IF IN DOUBT, BRIEF THE SITUATION UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE INTERVIEW. 5. AREA/DISTRICT PAOS WILL NOTIFY G-IPA, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OF EMERGENT OR EXTENSIVE LOCAL/REGIONAL COVERAGE OF DAY-TO-DAY EMERGENCY RESPONSE OPERATIONS THAT MAY SPREAD TO NATIONAL "BREAKING NEWS" COVERAGE. 6. THE COAST GUARD HAS AN OUTSTANDING REPUTATION FOR BEING FRANK AND HONEST WITH THE MEDIA. WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL AND WILL COOPERATE WITH THE MEDIA WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, WE MUST ENSURE PROPER SECURITY CONTENT AWARENESS AND HEADQUARTERS AND DHS APPROVAL/COORDINATION TO PROPERLY BALANCE OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAFEGUARDING OPSEC AND THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. | |
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